President Trump Misguided in UNGA Speech – PAAIA Urges Trump Administration to Continue Implementing the JCPOA
President Trump Misguided in UNGA Speech
PAAIA Urges Trump Administration to Continue Implementing the JCPOA
For Immediate Release:
Contact: Morad Ghorban
Email: Morad@PAAIA.org
Phone: (202)-828-8370
Washington, D.C. – Today, President Trump told the United Nations General Assembly that the Iran Nuclear Agreement – otherwise known as the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA) – is “one of the worst and most one-sided transactions the United States has ever entered into, and an embarrassment.”
In his speech, President Trump praised Iran’s rich history and culture, acknowledging that the Iranian people are seeking change. However, opposing the JCPOA will undermine the Iranian people’s democratic aspirations. Such actions only strengthen hardline elements in Iran who want to see the collapse of the agreement and alienate the Iranian people who want their country to engage the international community in a positive way.
Under the Iran Nuclear Agreement Review Act of 2015, the administration is scheduled to issue a certification to Congress every 90 days that Iran is complying with its obligations under the agreement. Failure to certify gives Congress the option to re-impose U.S. sanctions lifted under the JCPOA. The next deadline is scheduled for October 15, 2017.
PAAIA strongly urges the Administration to continue implementing the JCPOA, a deal which could help avoid another disastrous war in the Middle East. Our 2017 national public opinion poll found that 60 percent of survey respondents want to see the JCPOA upheld, while only 7 percent want to see the deal scrapped.
“As long as Iran upholds its commitments under the JCPOA, the U.S. should avoid measures that would derail the agreement and splinter international cooperation over Iran’s nuclear program,” said Leila Golestaneh Austin, PAAIA’s Executive Director. “American interests are best served by supporting the Iran Nuclear deal and engaging the Iranian people.”
A PAAIA commissioned data driven scientific assessment on strengthening compliance of the nuclear agreement, indicated Iran will likely continue to comply with the JCPOA. The report recommends that the U.S. uphold the threat of nuclear related sanctions without reemploying or instituting new ones.
Iranian Americans put America’s national security first. In the absence of Iranian non-compliance, PAAIA will continue to advocate in support of the JCPOA and for resolving our differences with Iran through diplomacy.
